Wichita eagle., 1887-06-12
pai19 - eagle
8 HUNTING OSTRICHES.
low THE ARAB OF THE DESERT
"a CAPTURES BIG GAME.

6z
Ina Most Favorable Time for the Chase.
Preparation of the Horses-The Game
1nAview-Methods of the ..Huntsmen.
I The Capture.
with the Arabs Of tho desert the chase and
capture of the ostrich is the most attractive
and aristocratic of the many diversions In
which they indulge The first thing attended
to when hunt is contemplated is the prep
aration Of the horses. They are entirely de-
prived of grass and fed on barley for seven or
EIGHT DAYS before the intended hunt. They
are allowed to drink only once day, and
that at sunset; at that time they are also
washed. They take long exercises, and great
attention is paid to the arrangement OF the
harness. The Arab says that after seven or
eight days the stomach of the horse disap.
pears, while the chest, the breast and Group
remain in flesh. The animal is then in con-
dition to endure fatigue. This training is
called s'teehaha" The harness used in this
hunting Is much lighter than that in ordin-
airy use, especially the saddle and the STIR
rups, and the martingale is dispensed with.
The bride also undergoes many changes, tho
mounting and earlaps being taken away, as
they are considered too heavy. The bit and
frontlet are made Of rope, without throat
band, and the reins, though very strong, are
extremely light.
The time most favorable for ostrich hunt
ing Il when there is the greatest heat. Tho
higher the temperature the less is the ostrich
able to defend itself. The Arab says that
when man stands upright and his shadow
a only the length of his foot is the
exact time to hunt Each horseman is accom-
panied by a servant, called "zemmaL" He is
mounted on a camel carrying four goat skins
filed with water, and barley for the horse,
wheat -four for the rider, some dates kettle
IN which to cook the food, and everything
which can possibly be required for the repair
ing Of the harness in case Of accident The
horseman wears linen vest and trousers, and
covers his nerk and ears with light material
called 1havuli," which is tied with strip OF
camel,s hide. His feet are protected by SAN
dals and his legs by light CATERS, called "tra-
bag He mas neither gun nor pistol, his only
weapon being a wild olive or tamarind stick,
five or six feet long, with heavy knob at
ono end
BEGINNING THE JOURNEY.
Before starting Off the hunters ascertain
where a large number of ostriches are to be
found. They are generally met with in places
where there is a great deal of grass and rain
has recently fallen. The hunters commence
their journey early in the morning. After
one or two days travelling, when they have
arrived near the desired spot and they begin
to sec traces of their game, they halt and
camp. After settling, two intelligent slaves
are sent out to reconnoiter. They carry q
goat skin at their side and little bread.
They walk on until they find the ostriches,
which are generally on elevated places. As
soon - the game is in view one lies down to
watch and the other returns to convey the in
formation to the camp The birds are found
in troops consisting often of as many as sixty.
The horsemen, guided by the scout, travel
cautiously toward the game. The nearer they
approach the spot the greater is their caution,
and when they reach the last ridge which
hides them from the ostriches they dismount
and creep forward to ascertain whether the
birds are still there. If such is the case a
moderate quantity of water is given to the
horses and each man mounts again and pro-
ceeds. The servants and camels follow little
distance behind, carrying with them corn
and water.
The horsemen divide and form q circle
around the ostriches at such a distance as not
to be noticed by them. The servants halt
when the horsemen separate, and as soon as
they see their masters in position they walk
right before their prey. The ostriches flee,
but are met by the hunters, who at first only
drive them back into the circle. They are
made to run around the ring, and in this way
their strength is exhausted. At the first sign
of fatigue in the birds the horsemen dash in
and the flock separates. The affrighted birds
open their wings, which is sign of great ex-
haustion, and the hunter. now feeling sure of
his prey, selects his bird and runs it down
and finishes it with blow on the head with
the olive stick.
THE CAPTURED GAME.
The moment the bird falls the man quickly
dislnounts and cuts its throat, taking care to
hold the head at some distance from the body
80 as not to soil the plumage. 1t is said the
inale bird utters loud means while dying, but
tia female dies in silence. When the ostrich
is on the point of being taken by the hunter,
il he does not wish to kill it he
can easily drive it with the stick
TO where the camel is, it is in such
an exhausted condition. After the birds
are bled to death they are carefully skinned
SO that the feathers may not become injured
and the skin is stretched upon tree or q
horse and salt is well rubbed into it. Then O
fire is built and the fat of the bird is boiled
for long time. When it is very liquid it j:
poured into bottles made of the skin of the
thigh and leg and strongly fastened at the
bottom. The fat of one bird is generally suf
fcient to fill two of these cases, and it is said
the fat would spoil in any other vessel After
the trying out process the flesh is prepared
and eaten by the hunters, who dress it wei
with pepper and flour. While all this is going
on the horses are carefully tended, watered
and fed with corn, and the party remain:
quiet for forty-eight hours to rest the ami
mails. After that they return to the camp OF
seek more game.
To the Arab the chase of the ostrich has
double attraction-that Of pleasure and Of
profit The price obtained for the skins wei
compensates for the expense. Not only d.
the rich enjoy the pursuit, but the poor, whc
know how to arrange for it, as well. TIL,
usual plan is for poor Arab to bargain will
some one who is well to do for the use Of hi
horse, camel, harness and two-thirds of thu
necessary provisions The borrower fur
nishes the remaining third, and the result O
the chase is divided in the same proportion.-
Boston Herald.
He Is "Nilliardaire."
A new word has been coined in France {.
represent a very rich American. 1t is no
sufficient to call him q millionaire he is